Knock-down type merchandise display island



June 7, 1955 M. J. LIEBERMAN KNOCiK-DOWN TYPE MERCHANDISE DISPLAY ISLAND Filed June 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l :34 -IO8 20 I06 Fig. I

Fig. 15

INVENTOR.

MORTON J. LIEBERMAN 1 1955 M. J. LIEBERMAN KNOCK-DOWN TYPE MERCHANDISE DISPLAY ISLAND Fild June 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. MORTON J. LIEBERMAN mlkmwi United States Patent KNOCK-DOWN TYPE MERCHANDISE DISPLAY ISLAND Morton Joseph Lieberman, San Diego, Calif.

Application June 28, 1954, Serial No. 439,703

Claims. (Cl. 312-257) The present invention relates generally to display equipment and furnishings and more particularly to a knockdown type merchandise display island.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a display island which is assembled upon a novel knock-down type frame structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display island in which the basic frame structure includes upright channel members to which the supporting legs and various brackets of the assembly are locked.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display island which may be assembled in many different modes to suit various types of merchandise.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display island of such simple design that the entire structure may be assembled by a single operator, the completed article being extremely attractive in appearance and adaptable to a variety of surroundings.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display island which is adapted for fabrication from many different materials, so that the choice of material can be ac: cording to the dictates of availability and price considerations, the exact sizes and proportions being matters easily determined to suit particular conditions and needs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a display island which is inexpensive and practicable to manufacture.

Finally, it is an object to provide a display island of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to assemble and maintain, and which will give generally efficient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure and wherein similar characters of reference indicate similar or identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the drawings, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the display island.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation view of the display island.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation View thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional viewtaken on the line 77 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end portion of the upper frame member.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the end retaining brackets.

2,710,241 Patented June 7, 1955 Fig. 12 is a perspective view of one of the top support brackets.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 12--12 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the supporting legs.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken on the line 15-45 of Fig. 2, showing the specific structural details of the frame members.

The display island includes generally a central, basic or skeletal frame 10 including laterally extending legs 12 and has baseboards 14 and 16 which rest on the legs on either side of said frame. In the assembly shown, a cabinet 18 is mounted on the baseboard 14 and a plurality of shelves 20 and 22 are fastened to the frame 10 above said cabinet. On the other side of the frame 10 a bar hanger 24 is attached, the full depth of the assembly above the baseboard 16 remaining unobstructed for use as a wardrobe.

The frame 10 comprises a plurality of upright channel members 26, each constituting a pair of similar channels 28 secured back to back by spot welding or the like. As shown in Fig. 15, each channel 28 comprises an elon: gated generally U-shaped element having a back portion 30, with sides turned inwardly and angularly disposed toward said back panel as indicated at 32. These inwardly turned sides 32 terminate in outwardly bent, spaced, parallel flanges 34 defining a longitudinal slot 35 therebetween. The channel members 26 are interconnected at their lower ends by bottom rails 36, substantially U shaped in cross section and having upwardly turned flanges 38. The bottom rails 36 are secured at each end to a bracket 40, the joint in each bracket being reinforced by a gusset 42, said brackets having inwardly turned vertical edges 44 which fit closely over the inwardly turned sides 32 to interlock the brackets with the channel members 26, as shown in Fig. 8. The bottom rails 36 are locked in place by means of lock screws 46 threaded through the brackets and gussets 42 and abutting the channel members 26.

The channel members 26 are joined at their upper ends by top rails 48 having downwardly turned flanges 50. The top rails 48 are also fitted with end brackets 40 and gussets 42 and are locked in place by lock screws 46, the structure being shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 10.

The frame structure is enclosed by facing panels 52 Whose lower-edges restin the bottom rails 36, the upright edges of the panels fitting into the L-shaped grooves formed by the turned sides 32 and flanges 34 of the channel members 26, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9. The top rails 48 are narrower than the bottom rails 36 so that the facing panels rest against the outside of the flanges 50,

said panels being held in place by tightly fitting, elongated, inverted U-shaped cap members 54.

The legs 12 each comprise a frame of metallic rod or bar stock having a top member 56, an upright end member 58 and. an upwardly bent elbow 60, which is secured to the top member at the bend of the elbow. The top member 56 has an extension 61 projecting beyond the end member 58, as shown in Fig. 14. The ends of the top member 56 and elbow are fixed to a rectangular key block 62 which fits into the channels 28 and is,sub-' stantially wider than the slots 35. The legs 12 are locked in place by lock screws 64 threaded through the key blocks 62 and abutting the back portions 30, thus clamping the key blocks tightly against the inside of the in-' wardly turned sides 32 as shown in Fig. 8. To facilitate levelling of the complete structure, each leg 12 is provided with an adjustable screwed foot 66 threaded through the elbow 60 adjacent the end member 58.

The baseboards 14 and 16 rest directly on the top r'nembers 56 of the legs 12 and are aligned by upwardly pro- 'jecting locating pins 68 secured to the ends of the extensions 61, said pins fitting into corresponding-sockets 70 in the baseboards. The baseboards 14 and 16 are further aligned and retained by the lock screws 64, which extend beyond the channel members 26 and lit-into sockets 71 drilled in the inner edge of each baseboard. These lock screws 64 and the extensions 61 combine to hold the cabinet 18 firmly and prevent its shifting laterally or ,tipping underheavy loads applied atthe front thereof.

The cabinet 18 comprises a rectangular front frame 72 having an upper member 74, 'a lower member 76 and 'endposts 7 8, all of which have apair Of parallel internal grooves 80 cut therein, as shown in Fig. 4. These grooves 80 receive the sliding doors 82 which enclose the front of the cabinet 18. At each end of the front frame 72 is a rearwardly extending end panel 84 having at its forward edge a reinforcing block 86, saidreinfo'rcing block being connected by hinges 88 to the endpost 78, so that said end panel may fold inwardly. The rear edge of each endpanel 84 fits into the L-shaped recess between the turned side 32 and flange 34 of the end channel member 26, as shown in Fig. 9. The cabinet 13 is covered by a top panel 96 to complete the assembly. The doors '82 have hand openings 92 for convenience, the openings being covered by interior backing plates 94.

At each end of the frame 10 is an upright end piece 96 comprising a substantially open, rectangular frame structure having a top member 98, a bottom member 100 and side members 102. Secured within the frame structure is a center panel 104 fixed between intermediate up right posts 1%, the portions of the frame structure between said posts and the side members 102 being fitted with screens 108 of expanded metal lath or a panel of analogous character.

Secured centrally on the inside of the center panel 104, at the upper and lower ends, are filler blocks 110 and 112 respectively, to which are fastened mounting plates 114 each carrying a bracket 116, as shown in Figs/5, 6, 7 and 11. The brackets 116 have inwardly turned edges 118 and interlock with the channel members 26 as do the brackets 40. The lower filler block 112 extends below the end piece 96 to the floor level andserves as a central support for the structure. With referenceto Fig. 9, it will be seen that the mounting plate 11d on the'lower filler block 112 overlaps the end panel 84 and cooperates to hold the same in place against the channel member 26 The structural assembly is finished witha top panel 120 resting on the cap members 54 between the end pieces 96, said top panel overhanging the "frame 10 on both sidesand being supported bytop brackets "1 22 These top brackets 122, as shown in Fig. 12, each comprise a key block 124 which fits inside the channels '28 and *is held by a lock screw 126, and a laterally extending support arm 128 reinforced by a gusset 130, said support arm having cut out portions 1-32; to clear the 'flangesf34 of said channels, and having an aperture 133 therein to receive a suitable screw or the like --to retain the top panel 120.

The shelves 2t) and 22 are supported on shelf brackets 134, each comprising a key block 136 to which is secured a laterally extending support arm 138. The key blocks 136 fit into the channels 28 as shown in Fig. 13 and are locked by lock screws 126.

The bar hanger 24 is mounted on support arms 140 which are secured in the channel-members in a man} ner similar to the shelf brackets 134,

The entire structure is easilyassembled by one man. The channel'members 26'a-re first joined by the topand bottom rails 48 and 36, respectively, and the legs "r2 are slid into place in the channels and locked, the screwed feet 66 being adjusted so that-the frame stands'upright. The facing panels 52 are then fitted-into place andser cured by the cap members 54. The baseboards 1-4 and 16 may then be installed and-the cabinet 18 erected. The end pieces 96 with their'brackets 1-16 attached are gthen fitted to the ends of the frame 1% by sliding said brackets downwardly over the end channel members as. The shelves 2t) and 22 and the bar hanger 24 are then positioned by locking their respective support brackets at the required places in the channel members 25. The procedure for dismantling the structure will be obvious, the majority of the assembly being interlocked by the looking screws in the various brackets.

The structure may be assembled in various ways to suit particular types of merchandise. More or less shelves may be used and positioned as required, shelves being fitted on both sides of the frame ill if necessary in place of the 'bar'hanger 24 as shown. The cabinet 18 may also be installed on both sides or may be omitted. The particular arrangement shown in the drawings is suitable for the display of clothing, the bar hanger 24 being used to hold garments such as coats or the like which are normally on hangers, while the shelves 2i and 22 carry folded or small garments. The cabinet 18 is of course, used to hold various items of merchandise.

The operation of this invention will be clearly comprehended from a consideration of the foregoing description of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and the above recited objects. it will be obvious that all said objects are amply achieved by this invention.

Further description would appear to be unnecessary.

.t is understood that minor variation from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and that the specification and drawings are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. A knockdown type merchandise display island, comprising a skeletal frame having laterally extending legs detachably secured thereto, said frame including upright channel members, and detachable rails interconnecting said channel members at the upper and lower ends thereof, said legs having end blocks rigidly secured thereto and slidable in said channel members, means to secure said blocks in said channel members, said legs each including a substantially rectangular key block having a locking screw threaded therein, laterally extending upper bar member fixed to said block. an upright end portionsecured beneath said upper member. an upwardly bent elbow coextensive with said end portion and secured at its end to said key block vertically spaced from said upper member, said elbow being secured to said upper member at the bend of the elbow, and an adjustable foot having a screwed element threaded through said elbow adjacent said end portion.

2, A knock-down type merchandise display island, comprisingaframe having a plurality of upright channel members having inwardly converging longitudinal sides, laterally extending legs detachably secured in said channel members, top and bottom rails having brackets at each end thereof, said brackets having turned edges disposed to interlock with said converging sides, and locking screws in said brackets to engage on said channel members, said bottom rail having upwardly turned flanges, and said top rail having downwardly turned flanges and being narrower than said bottom rail, facing panels enclosing said frame, said panels fitting inside said upwardly turned flanges and outside said downwardly turned flanges, cap members overlapping said top rails and said facing panels, and upright end pieces detachabiy secured to the ends ofsaid frame.

3. A knockdown type merchandise display island, comprising a frame having a plurality of upright channel members having inwardly converging longitudinal sides, laterally extendinglegs detachably secured in said channel members, top and bottom rails having brackets at each end thereof, said brackets having turned edges disposed to interlock with said converging sides, and locking screws 'in'saidbrackets to engage on said channel members, facing panels enclosing said frame between said channel members and said rails, upright end pieces at each end of said frame, said end pieces having attachment brackets fixed thereto, said brackets having turned edges to interlock with said converging sides.

4. A knock-down type merchandise display island, comprising a frame having a plurality of upright channel members having inwardly converging longitudinal sides, laterally extending legs detachably secured in said channel members, top and bottom rails having brackets at each end thereof, said brackets having turned edges disposed to interlock with said converging sides, and locking screws in said brackets to engage on said channel members, facing panels enclosing said frame between said channel members and said rails, upright end pieces at each end of said frame, said end pieces having attachment brackets fixed thereto, said brackets having turned edges to interlock with said converging sides, a cabinet mounted on said legs, said cabinet comprising a frontal frame having end panels hinged thereto, said end panels abutting said converging sides adjacent said end pieces, and one of said attachment brackets overlapping said end panels to hold the same in place against said channel members.

5. A knock-down type merchandise display island comprising a skeletal frame having laterally extending legs detachably secured thereto, said frame including upright channel members having inwardly converging, longitudinal sides, and detachable rails interconnecting said channel members at the upper and lower ends thereof, said legs having end blocks rigidly secured thereto and slidable in said channel members, and means to secure said blocks in said channel members, adjustable screwed feet at the outer ends of said legs, facing panels enclosing said skeletal frame, brackets shaped to interlock with said channel members for securing additional structural elements thereto, a cabinet having a baseboard mounted on said legs, said means comprising lock screws in said end blocks and extending laterally therefrom, said baseboard having sockets therein positioned to receive said lock screws, upwardly projecting locating pins on said legs, said baseboard having further sockets to receive said locating pins, whereby the baseboard is retained against tilting and lateral displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,041,264 Freud Oct. 15, 1912 1,836,901 Caldwell et a1. Dec. 15, 1931 1,938,450 Eustis Dec. 5, 1933 2,643,170 Vanderveld et a1. June 23, 1953 

